A Letter Home

OVERVIEW

Students will review the text of The Spirits of the Alamo part of the site, and each assume the identity of one person at the Alamo, then write a letter home describing his/her experience at the Alamo.

SKILL

Students will analyze the text to identify facts, details, and other information to write a letter.

PROCEDURE

1. Have students individually or in pairs at a computer reread the text for the various persons at the Alamo and the messages of the various spirits on the diagram, focusing on content.

2. Have each student select one person who was there.

3. Tell the students, "Become the person. Where are you from? How old are you? What are you doing at the Alamo?"

4. "It’s the evening of March 5^th, and the cannonading by the Mexican Army has stopped. All is quiet. You are the person. Write a letter back home telling about your experience, your fears, your hopes, and your companions. Travis plans to send out another courier in the morning, and he can take out your letters."

Your letter must: